Apparatus for manufacturing wire coat hangers



Nov. 11, 1947. N. w. coKE APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WIRE COAT HANGERS Filed Dec. 13, 1945 -2 Sheets-Sheet 1' Norm an W. Cokz'r N. W. COKER Nov. 11, 1947.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WIRE COAT HANGERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 13, 1945 rwaruf t Norman W Coker A I C'Lltfiows Patented Nov. 11, 1947 APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WIRE COAT HANGERS Norman W. (Joker, Paris, Tex.

Application December 13, 1945, Serial No. 634,785

3 Claims. (01. 14081.5)

My invention relates to a machine for the manufacture of wire garment hangers, and in particular to the provision of such a machine that is manually operated as distinguished from power driven types of machines now in general use.

The machines now in use are generally large complicated power; driven machines which are adapted to turn out agreat volume of coat hangers per minute; These: machines are intended for factory use, in the production of garment hangers on a large commercial basis for resale to laundries and cleanin establishments. Such machines are of necessity both cumbersome and expensive.

In contra-distinction to the type of machine referred to, it is the object of my invention to provide a small portable and inexpensive machine which has a suificient capacity and is otherwise suitable for use in individual cleaning establishments, to manufacture hangers in such quantities and as the needs of such individual laundry or establishment requires,

It is a further object of my invention to provide a machine which is of such simple construction and operation that practically any unskilled employee may manipulate the same to manufacture garment hangers as the need arises.

It is a still'further object of my invention to provide a machine which, due to its simplicity and resultin economy in construction, may be produced at a cost which will not be prohibitive to small establishments desiring to purchase the same.

While it is generally the object of my invention to provide a machine for use in individual laundries and dry cleaning establishments, it is contemplated that such machine might serve admirably in projects for the rehabilitation of persons who have been crippled or become blind and which could be made the means of their livelihood.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my invention illustrating the machine in its open or extended position with a wire in place preparatory to being formed into a hanger.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of my invention i1 lustrating the machine in its actuated or closed position with the wire bent to form the body of the hanger,

Figure 3 is a detail plan view partly in section illustrating my crank assembly for twisting the ends of the hanger wire into locked relationship.

Figure 4 is a top view illustrating my die for forming the hook portion of the. hanger.

Figure 5. is an exploded view of my invention illustrating the several parts thereof in position for assembly.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the lines 6& of Figure 4 and. illustrating in, detail my crank and hook formin die.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 and illustrating the hook formin die in depressed position to permit movement of the crank to its operative position, and

Figure 8 is a section-on the lines 88 illustrating in detail the pivot shown in Figure 1.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral I0 designates a base plate or'foundation member which is substantially triangular in shapewith a projecting portion I I, and is cast orotherwise formed of iron or other suitable metal. The two corners of the triangle opposite the projection H are rounded, as illustrated in Figure 5, and each of such rounded corners are provided with an enlarged aperture l2 pivotally carryingarms l3 and M, the function of which will later be made apparent.

Projection I l is also provided with an aperture shown at 15 in Figures 6- and '7 to receive the hook-forming die l6 aslater described. Abearing I! is cast integral With the projection H and is adapted to receive the shaft of a crank l8.

A second triangular plate I9, hereinafter re-' ferred to as the hanger die plate, is supported above the base plate land is secured by bolts 28 which project through corresponding holes 2| drilled or otherwise provided in the base plate, as best illustrated in Figure 5. My entire machine, although of a portable nature, may, if desired, be attached to a table or work bench, as shown at 22, and may be. secured thereto by extending the bolts 20 through appropriately spaced holes 23 provided in the table top 22.

The die plate l9; which is also preferably of cast iron, conforms generally to the triangular configuration of the base'plate l0, and is slightly smaller in circumferential dimensions. The triangular die plate is sheared oil at the corner 25 which, in assembled superimposed relation to the base plate, is spaced directly above the projection H. A wedge-shaped lug 24 is cast or otherwise provided on the periphery of the die plate [9, and is positioned centrally of the sheared off section 25, whereby, upon assembly of the machine, the lu 24 is disposed directly above and in alignment with the centers of the crank shaft bearing 3 I1 and the aperture I5 carried by the projection II.

The two corners of the die plate I9 opposite the sheared off corner 25 are provided with pivot pins 26 which are adapted to register with the previously mentioned enlarged apertures I2 disposed in the rounded corners of the base plate I0.

Pivot pins 26 project downwardly through the die plate I9, as shown in Figure 8, and are preferably brazed or otherwise secured in fixed relation thereto. A flange 21 is disposed circumferentially about the outer edge of the die plate I9, which flange during operation of the machine provides a receiving surface 28 for the wire stock 29, as hereinafter more fully described. A further upstanding flange 30 integral with the die plate I9 extends across the back thereof between the pivot pins 26.. A groove or channel 3| is formed between the flange 21 and the upstanding flange 39 at the back of the machine and, as hereinafter described, is adapted to receive the wire stock 29.

Referring to Figure 5, arms I3 and I4, respectively, are cast at their inner ends with cylindrical offset lugs 32 which project downwardly a substantial distance below the arms and upon assembly of the respective parts extend into the apertures I2 in the foundation plate I0. The lugs 32 are drilled or otherwise provided with longitudinal bores 33 forming bearings to receive the pivot pins 26 carried by the die plate I9. Washers or discs 34 are welded or otherwise secured, as at 35, to the pivot pins 26 to form a bearing surface upon which the lower faces of the lugs 32 rest and are adapted to rotate, as best illustrated in Figure 8. The arms I3 and I4 are thus hingedly secured between the plates I0 and I9 and are free to swing upon the pivot pins 26 to the open and closedpositions illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, respectively. The arms are yieldably retained in their open position by means of a coiled spring 36 which has attached at each end thereof short lengths of chains 37, which chains are in turn welded or otherwise secured, respectively, to the ends of arms I3 and I4 adjacent the lugs 32. Movement of the arms beyond the open position shown in Figure 1 is prevented by contact of the inner ends of the arms with the ends of the upstanding flange 30 which flares outwardly from the die plate I9, as illustrated in Figure 1.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the lugs 32 are offset at right angles from the innner ends of the arms I3 and I4, thus permitting the arms when swung to their closed position to lie parallel and substantially flush with the sides of the die plate I9. It will also be understood that the lugs 32 are attached only to approximately the lower half of the arms I3 and I 4, and that the upper faces 38 of the lugs are slightly spaced from the underneath surface of the die plate to eliminate friction or binding when the arms are rotated, as best shown in Figure 8. The positioning of the lugs with respect to the arms, as aforesaid, permits the adjacent surfaces of the foundation plate I I] and the die plate I9 to lie nearly flush with each other when assembled in superimposed relation, there being only a limited space illustrated at 39 in Figures 6 and 7 separating the two plates.

Each of the arms I3 and I4 carries mid-way of its length a locking member consisting of a rotatable shaft 49 extending through an aperture provided in a, raised portion 4| which is cast integral with the arms. An eccentric member 42 is brazed or otherwise secured to the shaft at the end thereof which lies adjacent the die plate 19 when, the

arm is swung to the closed position, illustrated in Figure 2, the opposite end of the shaft terminating in a rotatable handle 43. It will be noted that the shaft 49 projects through the raised portion 4| of the arm a sufiicient distance whereby, upon rotation of the handle 43, the elongated portion of the eccentric member 42 engages the circumferential flange 21 carried by the die plate I9, thereby locking the arm in the closed position as stated. If desired, the elongated portion of the eccentric 42 may be provided with a cam or beveled surface, not shown, to enable the arm to be drawn into snug relationship with the die plate I9. Oil holes 44 may be drilled in the raised portion 4| to communicate with and permit lubrication of the shaft 40.

The ends of the arms I3 and I4 opposite the lugs 32 terminate in sections 45 which project at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the arms and in the closed position of the machine illustrated in Figure 2 lie parallel to the sheared point 25 of the triangular die plate I9. The sections 45 are notched at 49 to receive and maintain the hanger wire 29 in proper spaced position during the operation of the machine, whereby, upon closing the arms, the hanger wire carried within such notches 46 is brought into engagement with the working face 28 on the periphery of the die plate I9. Lugs 41 project from near the bottom of sections 45 and when the arms are folded or swung to their closed position, said lugs are received in the space 39 between the base plate In and die plate I9 adjacent the projection II of the base and the sheared corner 25 of the die plate respectively. The lugs 41 assist in guiding and maintaining the arms in their operative or closed position and lend rigidity to the assembly of the respective parts during the subsequent twisting of the ends of the hanger wire, as later described. Angular section 45 forming a part of arm I3 is cast with an integrally formed hook-shaped member 48 which is provided with a pocket or groove 49 adapted to receive and retain one end of the hanger wire during the operation of the machine. The hanger stock 29 preferably consists of No. 12 gauge steel wire, and is cut into lengths 43%" for the standard size hanger which my machine is intended to manufacture.

The operation of my invention as thus far described is as follows: Assuming that the arms I3 and I4 are in their open or operative position, illustrated in Figure 1, one end of the length of wire is inserted in the depression 49 carried by the projection 48 on the arm I3. From the depression 49, the wire is strung through the notch 46 in the arm I3 through the channel 3| at the back of the die plate I9 and through the notch 46 at the outer end of arm I4, the free end of the wire projecting beyond the end of the arm I4, as shown in Figure 1. To form the body of the hanger, the arms are swung about their pivots carrying the ends of the wire with them to the closed or operated position where the wire is clamped between the inner surface of the arms and the receiving face 28 of the circumferential flange 21 which extends around the outer edge of the triangular die plate. The arms I3 and I4 are snugly locked in their closed position with respect to the receiving face of the die plate by rotating the handles 43 of the locking members to engage the beveled elongated section of the eccentrics 42 with the circumferential flange 2'! carried by the die plate. It is preferred, although not essential, that arm I3 is swung to its closed position and locked in place before arm I4 is losed. By .sn h operational y excess. l n th of thewire stock, such as in the loop 50 adjacent arm I3, is moved lengthwise throughthe channel 3| atthe back of the machine and permitted to projectbeyond the end of arm I4. The wire is thus automatically positioned in themachine to provide a long end which projects a predetermined distance beyond the end of arm [4 and, as later described in detail, is bent to form a hook for the hanger.

In the operation of the machine to the closed position as described, the hanger wire is bent to form the triangular-body portion of thehanger d. is posit on for the next operation. ich consists of twisting the ends of; the hanger wire tolock them together. For such purpose, I have provided a crank assembly which is illustrated in detail in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing-, to which reference is now made. The hearing I] positioned at the outer end of theprojection ll carried by the base plate is provided with a bore 5!, the longitudinal axis of which is directly in alignment with the wedge-shaped lug 24 carried by the die plate and is adapted to slidably receive for rotation therein the shank 52 oi a crank member indicated generally at It. The crank member which is hollow may be formed from a length of metal pipe or tubing, and the end of the shank 52 is closed by a metal. plug 53 which is drilled or otherwise provided with holes 54 to receive the ends of the hanger wire 29, as shown in Figure 3, In operation of the crank member, the shank 52 is inserted in the bearing I! and advanced therethrough, the ends of the wire stock being manually threaded through the respective apertures 54 in the plug end of the shank as it is advanced. The stop member 55 isv adjustably secured by a screw 01 stud 56 to the shaft of the crank, and: the stop is adapted to engage with the outer end of the bearing [1 to restrict the advancement of the shaft beyond the position shown in Figure 2. Upon reaching the position described with the ends of the hanger wire threaded through the openings in the plug at the end of the shank, the crank is rotated to twist. the wire together, as shown in Figure 2. Two complete revolutions of the crank will twist the wire sufiiciently so that the ends will remain permanently locked. However, if it is desired to provide more twists in the wire, the crank may be adjusted to provide sufficient space between the end of the shank carrying the plug 53 and the wedge member 24 carried by the die plate to receive the number of additional twists required. The adjustment of the crank with respect to the wedge memberis controlled by setting the stop member 55 to limit the distance which the shank 52 may be advanced through the bearing H.

In advancing the crank shaft through the bearing to engage the ends of the hanger wire, it is necessary to first depress the hook-forming die l6 previously mentioned and illustrated in detail in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawing, to which reference is now made. Secured at the underside of the base plate I!) is an inverted U-shaped member which may consist of a relatively short length of iron shown in section at 51, The in verted U-shaped member is positioned at the point of the triangular base plate adjacent the projection H, and is secured thereto by the threaded bolt 58 which projects through the die plate l9 and extends through registering apertures provided in the base plate and U-member 51. A nut 59 threadedly engaging the bolt 58 6 firmly secures, the, U-member underneath the plate l0, as described, I-Iingedly secured to the Uemember 51' is a metal finger 60 formed at one end to provide an eye or bearing 6|, which is mounted for pivotal movement on apivot pin 62 extending transversely across the channel of; the U,-.membe r, the respective ends of the pivot pin being weldcdto the adjacent legs of the u;-member. The hpokrformin e it which s pr ferabl cast: ron. is ind ic and a bead 63 extend n abo t e op h o h die correspcnds circumferential; dimension to the; hoo oi; s anda d ize. re. clothes h ngers Thehook di .5 is-brazed qr o e i e-se ur d near the.botiQIHhsiflfiQhtfid a to t e end or-the. meta fin and a a t d to p o ec through. theenlarsed er e l in th p q tion :of, .he plate; 1.0.: As r e 5 e ed 1. derneatn the base plate, as illustratedin Figures 6 and '7, yieldingly maintains the hook die inits projected position, Flanges 66 which extend downwardly from, the baseplate iii at the rounded corners of'thebase plate and at the outer end of DIQjection ll serve to space the basea sufficient distance above its supporting bench or table, topermit depression of the hook die, as illustrated i i-Figure 7.

Continuing; the description of the operation of my, machine, the hook; die I6 is depressed out of the pathofz h crank shaft 52 s is a n ed through the bearing I! to engage the ends of the hanger wire. Following the, twisting together of the ends ofthe, hanger wireby rotation of the crank, the crank member is withdrawn a sum-- cientdistance through the hearing I! to release the wire and clear the hook die, thereby permitting the latter to be projected through the aperture 15in the projection l I by the action of spring 65, as illustrated in Figure 6, In the projected position described,- the hook die is ready to receive the remaining or long end of the hanger wire, the short end of such wire havingbeen ab,- sorbed in twisting the two ends together. To form the hook of the hangenthe operator manually molds or bends the end of the wire stock about the cylindrical die beneath the bead 53 which serves to prevent the wire from slipping oif 0f the cylinder during such bending operation. A pair of pliers or other implement, not shown, may be used to draw the end of the wire about the hook die, although it has been found that the wire issufficiently flexible to permit the operator to bend the same by hand and without the use of tools or other equipment. To release the now completely formed hanger, the hook die is first depressed to force the bead through the aperture l5, thus detaching the hook from the cylinder. The handles 43 of the locking members are next rotated to disengage the eccentrics from the flange carried at the outer periphery of the die plate. The arms, thus released, are permitted to swing about their pivots to the open position illustrated in Figure 1, the coil spring and chain which is secured at the ends of the arms assisting in such movement. The completely formed hanger may now be removed from the machine which is in its open position ready to receive a new length of wire in preparation for forming the next hanger.

It will be seen from the foregoing description and drawings that my invention provides a simple and practical machine which is inexpensive to manufacture and which is well adapted to carry out the objects as specified. It will also be obvious that while I have herein described a preferred embodiment of my invention, the same may be altered in detail and arrangement of parts within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for the manufacture of garment hangers having a body and a hook formed from wire stock, said machine consisting of a base member, a die plate mounted above the base and carrying a flange presenting a wire receiving surface of substantially triangular configuration, arms secured to the die plate and pivoted between said die plate and said base member for movement to an operated and an operative position with respect to said wire receiving surface, yielding means for retracting the arms to said operative position, means carried by each of said arms for engaging said wire stock and cooperating with the triangular receiving surface to bend said wire intermediate its ends to form the body of the hanger, means carried by one of the arms for positioning the wire stock in the machine to terminate in a short and a long end upon actuation to the operated position, said means consisting of a hook member projecting at .an angle to said arm and having a pocket for receiving one end of said wire, locking members carried by the arms and adapted to selectively engage the Y flange carried by said die plate to retain the arms in said operated position, means for engaging and twisting the ends of said wire into interlocked relationship, and a hook forming die about which the hook of said hanger is formed.

2. A machine for the manufacture of garment hangers having a body and a hook formed from wire stock, said machine consisting of a base member, a die plate mounted above the base and carrying a flange presenting a wire receiving surface of substantially triangular configuration, arms secured to the die plate and pivoted between said die plate and said base member for movement to an operated and an operative position with respect to said Wire receiving surface yielding means for retracting the arms to said operative position, means carried by each of said arms for engaging said Wire stock and cooperatin with the triangular receiving surface to bend said wire intermediate its ends to form the body of the hanger, means carried by one of the arms for positioning the wire stock in the machine to terminate in a short and a long end upon actuation to the operated position, said means consisting of a hook member projecting at an angle to said arm and having a pocket for receiving one end of said wire, locking members carried by the arms and adapted to selectively engage the flange carried by said die plate to retain the arms in said operated position, means consisting of a hollow crank having apertures in the end thereof for engaging and twisting the ends of said wire into interlocked relationship, and a hook forming die pivotally carried by the base member and about which the hook of said hanger is formed.

3. A machine for the manufacture of garment hangers having a body and a hook formed from wire stock, said machine consisting of a base member, a die plate mounted above the base and carrying a flange presenting a wire receiving surface of substantially triangular configuration, arms secured to the die plate and pivoted between said die plate and said base member for movement to an operated and an operative position with respect to said wire receiving surface, yielding means for retracting the arms to said operative position, means carried by each of said arms for engaging said wire stock and cooperating with the triangular receiving surface to bend said wire intermediate its ends to form the body of the hanger, means carried by one of the arms for positioning the wire stock in the machine to terminate in a short and a long end upon actuation to the operated position, said means consisting of a hook member projecting at an angle to said arm and having a pocket for receiving one end of said Wire, locking members carried by the arms and adapted to selectively engage the flange carried by said die plate to retain the arms in said operated position, means consisting of a hollow crank having apertures in the end thereof for engaging and twisting the ends of said wire into interlocked relationship, a hook forming die pivoted to the base adjacent the crank member and depressible out of the path thereof, said hook die including a cylindrical member about which the hook of said hanger is formed from the long end of said wire.

NORMAN W. COKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,695,603 Magidson Dec. 18, 1928 1,941,430 Boyles Dec, 26, 1933 1,563,797 Ryan Dec. 1, 1925 1,888,803 Moore Nov. 22, 1932 2,093,173 Olson Sept. 14, 1937 

